(RENO (1-12) — In every form of racing there are the veterans and younger competitors that are rising up the ranks. MRANN is no different and one rising racer is 16-year-old Spanish Springs High School Sophomore Drew Chattin, this year’s 250 Expert championship.
When the 2014 season began Drew Chattin (573x) was still in the amateur ranks. Here he leads the charge off the starting line.
Halfway through the season’s first MRANN race Chattin heads back to the pits.
By the fall Chattin had been bumped up to the Expert ranks and was finishing in the top 10.
During the Moon Rocks race Chattin makes a pit stop on his way to another good finish.
At MRANN’s annual banquet the Desert Fox, Dennis Belingheri scored another overall points championship. Here he is taking the final checkered flag of the season and sealing the deal.
Second in overall points and probably a contender for the championship in 2015 was Kyle Townsend shown here heading into the pits at the Moon Rocks race.
He and his older sister grew up with their racing father so competing on the desert is in their blood.
“ I was 2-years-old when I got my first motorcycle and 2 and a half when I started racing,” he said. “I think it gave me the thrill to keep on racing. At that time I was riding a small Honda with training wheels and when we took them off I started racing.”
At age 8 Chattin won the 50cc championship then moved up to the 65cc class. This is a big jump for any young racer as they have to get used to using a clutch and learning how to shift.
“I was in the back of the pack on a 65 then when I turned expert was in the mid-pack but wasn’t racing for the overall,” he said. “When I got my 85 is when I picked it up.”
Eventually he got a 100cc bike and raced both motocross and desert events. He feels competing in motocross helped him on the desert.
“Desert was hard because I didn’t know how to jump or anything,” he said. “Motocross is harder because of the jumps and braking. So I took those skills, cornering and making jumps, I got from motocross and it made desert racing 100 times better.”
Eventually he took some time off from racing and tried different things.
One was golfing and the other was acting. Then he decided to return to racing.
“I wasn’t training too well until 2014 then I started riding and training everyday and proving it wasn’t just a lucky year,” he said.
When he was racing a lot his father had a different way of training.
“My dad trained me and my sister for racing and he’s got a pretty interesting method as he takes us out then tells us to chase his dust. My older sister said if I train hard enough I can make something out of this,” he said.
Currently Chattin hasn’t been training as hard due to the holidays and helping his mother move. He hopes to change this as the 2015 season starts in just a few weeks.
When 2014 began he hadn’t been bumped up from the amateur ranks but soon figured out he might have a chance at winning a title.
“I think it was the first race when I rode my 250 and Mason Stone was winning,” he said. “I caught him and thought to myself that I can win this whole thing and dominate it.”
After he was bumped to the expert class Chattin wound up 12th overall and was determined to show everyone he could be the best and win.
“I started doing better and better, first 10th, then 9th, fifth and fourth overall,” he said. “I was taking things more seriously as I wanted to get first overall after the top 10.”
Like most racers he has his favorite and least favorite parts of the sport.
“My least favorite part is when you’re behind someone, are faster and have to take a rise to try and pass,” he said.
He also finds that some people don’t think this type of racing is that hard.
“When I tell someone I’m going to race desert they think it’s easy because you twist a throttle. So I tell them to come ride with me and see if it’s easy,” he said.
His favorite parts are racing with some that’s faster than he is but still being able to compete with them as well as racing with friends while still being competitive and having fun. And he appreciates the good sportsman ship found in the desert racing community.
And like any racer he appreciates the sponsors and people that are supporting him.
Chattin said his parents are a big part of that support group as well as sponsors RMS, Carson Motorsports, Moose Racing, 100%, MX Trophies, and Niknak (Nick Alosi) who does his shocks.
Recently he was asked if he would race for the Beta Team in the Best in the Desert series. Looking at his schoolwork and other things he’s declined the offer for now.
In addition to racing he hopes to develop another talent: comedy. He’s working on an act and if all goes well he might try it out at the Reno Comedy Club sometime in the future.
This Saturday Chattin joined MRANN in its annual banquet where he was awarded the #8 blue plate he’ll carry on his bike in the 2015 season.
Asked what it means to him, he said, “That I have a chance to get a number plate for the whole MRANN season and eventually go pro this year. I’m after the overall this year and think I might be on a 450 but not sure right now.”
OTHER RACING NEWS
- At the annual MRANN banquet Saturday “The Desert Fox,” Dennis Belingheri accepted another overall points championship and will once again race with the Blue number one plate on his bike.
However he might try other series so might not defend his title in 2015 although he will race on selected events.
Kyle Townsend, another racer that grew up competing in MRANN earned the number 2 plate and should be a contender for the overall points championship this season.
There were also special awards handed out and while Chattin was the Most Improved Big Bike Rider young Dalton Legenbauer was the Most Improved Mini Bike Rider.
Chris Ingram got a special honor when he was named Sportsman of the Year while the Belingheris were named Family of the Year. The Western States event got enough votes to be named Race of the Year.
Now everyone had a few weeks off before the 2015 season begins on February 14-15 north of the Nightingale exit on I-80.
- Northern Nevada racer Aaron Siminoe once again attempted to make the night show for the 250 West Supercross series that visited Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday. Unfortunately after starting 10th in his heat race he finished 15th and in the Last Chance Qualifier started and finished 11th, which didn’t allow him to transfer to the main event.
He’ll try again this Saturday when the series visits Anaheim again. That event will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 starting at 7 p.m. local time.
RESULTS
Overall top 20 in MRANN Points for 2014*
- — Dennis Belingheri, 2. Kyle Townsend, 3. Willy Heiss, 4. Justin Miller, 5. Michael Berenbak, 6.Dan Caparelli, 7. Josh Wilson, 8. Drew Chattin, 9. Tim Fitzpatrick, 10. Steve Tichenor, 11. Levi Hutchings, 12, Joe Gatie, 13. Austin Serpa, 14. Paul Ziegler, 15. Tony Weatherman, 16. Corey Fletcher, 17. Adam Thissen, 18. Mason Stone, 19. Zane Roberts, 20. Tanner Tremaine
- Riders that will use a Blue Plate with ranking number on it for the 2015 season.
- Class points:
Woman: 1.Beth Legenbauer, (Ama.), 2. Julianne Zotter, (Nov.), 3. Jacqueline Stone, (Nov.), 4. Nicole Collins, (Ama.), 5. Danielle Walkiewicz, (Ama.)
Over 60: 1. Pete Pritchard, (Exp.), 2. Mike Wilson, (Exp.), 3. Dave Rosenquist, (Exp.), 4. John Taggart, (Exp.), 5. Rodger Mercer, (Exp.)
Over 50:
Exp. — 1. Mike Kenney, 2. Mark Dowers, 3. Kevin Truax, 4. Jay Heying
Ama. — 1. Ray Sbriglia, 2. Robert Velasquez, 3. Michael Gauvreau, 4. Chris Sunderland, 5. John Boyson
Nov. — 1. Ted Elswick, 2. Steve Morgan, 3. Ron Peck, 4. Dave Zotter, 5. Brad Moore
Over 40:
Exp. — 1. Tim Fitzpatrick, 2. Dennis Belingheri, 3. Alan Cameron, 4.Jack Reader Sr., 5. Jeff Engelke
Ama. — 1. Ronnie Scorsonelli, 2. Keith Serpa, 3. Jeff Shepard, 4. Ryan Tanner, 5. Warren Baker
Nov. — 1. Brian Cameron, 2. Kevin Listman, 3. Chuck Faul, 4. Allan McClaren, 5. Brian Zastawniak
Over 30:
Exp. — 1. Willy Heiss, 2. Justin Miller, 3. Josh Wilson, 4. Michael Berenbak, 5. Steve Arcouette
Ama. — 1. Dave Rennie, 2. Phillip Rhodes, 3. John Ludwick, 4. Phil Fell, 5. Robert Belinger
Nov. — 1. Jodie Fell, 2. Aaron Hawkins, 3. Ryan Blaire, 4. Travis Hyatt, 5. Shawn Fappella
Open:
Exp. — 1. Kyle Townsend, 2. Stephen Tichenor, 3. Robert McAdam, 4. Dan Caparelli, 5. Marxus Loll
Ama. — 1. Matt McKimmy, 2. Jeffrey Tabrizi, 3. Wyatt Brittner, 4. Jacob Ayala, 5. Wayne Weidemaier
Nov. — 1. Cody Von Linsowe, 2. Clint Von Linsowe, 3. Cameron Von Linsowe, 4. Garrett Kooyers, 5. Joey Loehner
4-Stroke:
Exp. — 1. Tony Weatherman, 2.Joe Gatie, 3. Ed Sellers, 4. Ricky Dahlberg, 5. NickAlosi
Ama. — 1. Donavyn Morris, 2. Perris Hale, 3. Brandon Thomas, 4. Thomas Duncan,5. Trent Unrah
Nov. — 1. Bryce Walker, 2. Trent Unrah, 3. Joey Miller, 4. Robert Johnson, 5. Brent Demartini
200:
Exp. — 1. Austin Serpa, 2. Paul Ziegler, 3. Chris Maas, 4. Robert Nelson, 5. Corey Fletcher
Ama. — 1. Nathan Owen, 2. Austin Wilson, 3. Chris Chick, 4. Blake Taylor, 5. Tony Van Dover
Nov. — 1.Nicholas Lapin, 2. Kyle Banta, 3. Dillon Boyson, 4. Jakobee Reviglio, 4. Folsom Smith, 5. Mason Parker
250:
Exp. — 1.Drew Chattin, 2. Mason Stone, 3.Ryan Hamel, 4. Kevin Wallace, 5. Corey Fletcher
Ama. — 1. James Graham, 2. Dusten Baldwin, 3. Charlie Brown, 4. Mike Dixon, 5. Christopher Dixon
Nov. — 1. Devin Walker, 2. Tyler Spelts, 3. Travis Nix, 4. Paul Swirsky, 5. Tristen Furlong
- Saturday Points and Class Leaders
6 & Under — 1. Seth Rigsby, 2. Joradn Maas, 3. Destry Rigsby, 4. Landen Williams, 5. Jacob Engelki
7 & Up — 1. Austin Hough, 2. Dalton Legenbauer, 3. Christa Ponsock, 4. Austin Key, 5. Brynn Belingheri
4- Stroke Pee Wee — 1. Brynn Belingheri, 2. Tyler Davenport, 3. Andrew Anderson, 4. Maddison Bothe, 5. Genevieve Miller
65cc — 1. Anthony Edberg, 2. Ryder Schwartz, 3. Camie Ingram, 4. Anthony Braun, 5. Tristan Morrice
100cc — 1. Jonas Thissen, 2.Alek Simone, 3. Sean Dingley, 4. Dallas Serpa, 5. Ezra Belinghri
Women — 1. Taylor Kemp, 2. Tina Bodden, 3. Doreen Rigsby, 4. Devynn Muhlenberg, 5. Kylee Spring
